The Snowsports Thread 2015-16

What a week that was, never touched a set of skis before that start of the week, by the end of the week i'd say i was fairly competent novice, comfortable with all grades of piste and even had a play with some small sections of off piste and deep powder.
Granted i had 4 days with an instructor, last two days were spent pushing our newly learned skills on our own, just exploring everything the mountian had to offer, left the resort without injury, just significantly achy and stiffer!
Had the time of my life over there.
Courmayuer and the Aosta valley was just breathtaking, the skiing, the people, the views, just everything!
Think i've found another expensive hobby to add to the ever growing list, just back and i'm already planning my next ski holiday!
 
The Craig said:
Also, agreed Kreeeee get a cheap board and good fitting boots (spend more on boots). I Managed to get my boots new for 65 quid and a used board with bindings for 70 or 80 and that's me set!
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randomshenans said:
I'd agree with that... you'll end up spending more hiring than buying pretty quickly!
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Skidder said:
So buy one, don't even think of hiring if you're doing it that much.
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No chance when it's so cheap to rent for the season! Heading out again maybe 2-3 times next week to see if I can spend more time on my feet than my arse. It's way more fun learning by myself rather than with lessons like I did with skiing.

We'll see how I feel at the end of the season, I'm still leaning towards buying skiis but it's always worth learning something new. I did hiking with snow shoes yesterday and learnt some Lindy Hop dancing today. I ache so much.
 
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Alex_6n2 said:
I hope so too!

Forecast for Hakuba has improved rapidly. Nearly 1M of snow now forecast between Today and Wednesday.

Hoping Wednesday might turn into a glorious blue bird powder day so I can crack out the Hovercraft!
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Nice, I've just had the hovercraft out for a day in Flegere and a day on the Vallorcine side of le tour. Both amazing.

Yesterday was a corker. They opened Lognan for the first time this season giving access to the top of Grand Montets. We lucked out and had the first lift. Fresh tracks all the way down the front face. The back side is knackered at the mo as a major new crevasse has opened up. Snap from yesterday morning.

U3IrnPp.jpg

When you are in Niseko, go and check out the Gentemstick shop in the village next door. Lovely boards. One of my pals bought a swallow tail and it is a very nice piece of kit.

mid_gen said:
Make sure you check out Strawberry Fields in Niseko (top of Hanazono lifts, hang a right), try not to stop though, I dropped off a small ledge and ended up neck deep in powder once, took me bloody ages to dig my way out and crawl to somewhere I could get moving again :)
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Strawberry fields is huge fun. Love it!
 
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Kreeeee said:
No chance when it's so cheap to rent for the season! Heading out again maybe 2-3 times next week to see if I can spend more time on my feet than my arse. It's way more fun learning by myself rather than with lessons like I did with skiing.

We'll see how I feel at the end of the season, I'm still leaning towards buying skiis but it's always worth learning something new. I did hiking with snow shoes yesterday and learnt some Lindy Hop dancing today. I ache so much.
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Renting for a season? Sounds bizarre.
 
Hi all

Never arranged my own boarding holiday (went a couple of times in school), where would be the best places to look for for a couple of beginners (won't need lessons) around early January time?
 
Pure cold smoke in the wasatch, forgot my snorkel so I was gasping for air between face shots! Got worried about the road restrictions so called it quits at 3700ft ascent, was snowing 4-5 inches an hour.
 
I'm in San Diego at the mo for work and looking forward to squaw valley at the weekend. I gather another storm is on the way. Fingers crossed for some decent snow.
 
Another glorious day of snow and sun, I think I'll take the day off and go snowboarding again.

I love my job :D

Skidder said:
Renting for a season? Sounds bizarre.
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Yeah, it seems to be a Swiss thing.

Amp34 said:
You're going to get so many bad habits. :p
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Probably, it's way better learning something yourself though. It's worked well with motocross, electronics, skiing, ice hockey and French so far though :p
 
I'd argue learning yourself with a bit of instruction occasionally works far better. ;)

Just something like an hour every couple of weeks so the instructor can explain how you can get better quicker and you can integrate that into the fun self instruction. Just changing your stance slightly, or moving something slightly differently can make a massive difference to stability, speed and general ability and only needs the occasional lesson to pick it up. Not suggesting 3 hour morning sessions for a week! :)

Just came back from Castle and Fernie tonight.

Castle Saturday - A "Mom and Pop" as they are called here. It has about 5 old double and triple chairs. Rained on Friday so most of the mountain was solid, lumpy ice. Eugh! Little bit at the top wasn't too bad but still hard as concrete. Ended up giving up after a few hours because it just felt like an injury waiting to happen. :(

As we left Castle for Fernie though it started to snow. It ended up as 20cm over night and it was powder day in Fernie :D - 5 massive bowls where it's basically impossible to get lost. Take lift to top, track around top of bowl to desired setting off point and drop in wherever you want, you'll always end up at a chair again for another run. Probably the best resort I've ever done for off piste without a guide. Did some nice steep bits, some tree runs and some nice open bits, all on a single run, following the nicest powder. Definitely recommended!:D
 
Heading to Sauze d'Oulx on Sunday for a week, 2 of us intermediate snowboarders with 3 half days (6? 9? hours) of lessons booked. Won't be too adventurous but anything there (or Sportinia/Sestriere) we need to see/do?

oliviarosetp said:
The slopes all look good in Bulgaria. Head for Bansko for a great town under the slopes or Pamporovo to avoid the crowds.
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Pamporovo is ok, went there 3 years ago and even without any snowfall (and it being 14 degrees, was 6-8 at home!) there were enough snow cannons to keep enough slopes open for us as beginners. It's quite remote up in the mountains - not a huge amount of scope when it came to eating out. I imagine 10 days/2 weeks there would be too long! Don't tell the guys selling bells that you'll buy one 'later in the week' as there's not enough people there for them to forget your face...! :rolleyes:;)
 
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Kreeeee said:
Well I'm clearly awesome at snowboarding and definitely don't need any lessons :p ;)

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Video is great but can't hear the audio here at work ;)

Turns 5 & 6 were the best, don't kick your trailing leg around as that's what is causing you to catch your edges and fall. Turn by unedging the board and 'twisting' your feet to swap to the edge you want, it's only through the smoothness of your weight transferring between those edges that should turn you around - not the force of your twist dragging the board around it! ;)

You'll feel more stable on the board too - balancing easier & quicker so you don't need to expend energy sitting down & getting back up every time you want to stop. Small corrections will cost you loads less energy without compromising your balance. :D
 
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randomshenans said:
As above, your transfer of weight is lacking. It needs to be a smooth motion, not flipping it around or you'll catch an edge, like you did many times.
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Good for the camera if you're after spectacular falls! :D

Didn't know you skied Ross! You board too? I've not been on skis for around 14 years but used to be 'ok' (blacks, ice & moguls)! But I'm a beginner *again* (blues/reds) by starting boarding 4 years ago! ;)
 
I've been skiing for years, we have a place in the mountains and my parents have a chalet out here as well. Which isn't bad :p
I'm not as good boarding, but I can get down stuff. Car accident ruined my ankle on my right foot, so movement getting on my edges on a board is much harder now! I mainly stick to skis!
 
mid_gen said:
Make sure you check out Strawberry Fields in Niseko (top of Hanazono lifts, hang a right), try not to stop though, I dropped off a small ledge and ended up neck deep in powder once, took me bloody ages to dig my way out and crawl to somewhere I could get moving again :)
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Gates are open now so just get off Hano 1 and go immediately left.
 
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